21. Motor Systems Flashcards
(281 cards)
What is the collective term given to the basal ganglia and cerebellum?
Extrapyramidal system

Broadly speaking, what is the role of the extra-pyramidal system?
- It checks that the movement selected by the motor cortex is correct
- They are responsible for the involuntary and automatic control of all musculature:
- Muscle tone
- Balance
- Posture
- Locomotion
- They are responsible for the involuntary and automatic control of all musculature:
- Both parts of the extrapyramidal system has functions aside from modulating motor control

Where is the basal ganglion located?
White matter in the middle of the brain

What are the different parts of the basal ganglia?
-
Striatum
- Caudate nucleus
- Putamen
-
Globus Pallidus
- External segment (GPext)
- Internal segment (GPint)
-
Substantia nigra
- Pars compacta (SNc)
- Pars reticulata (SNr)
- Subthalamic nucleus

What is the function of the basal ganglia?
- It is involved in planning and coordinating movement
- It elaborates associated movements
- e.g. swinging arms when walking
- Contribute to the smoothness of complex action Involved in moderating and coordinating movements
Describe the structure of the direct pathway in the basal ganglia.
Fibres initially come from the motor cortex to the striatum (caudate and putamen)
- Direct Pathway: putamen –> internal segment (GPi) + pars reticulata (SNr)

Describe the structure of the indirect pathway in the basal ganglia.
- Fibres initially come from the motor cortex to the striatum (caudate and putamen)
- Putamen –> globus pallidus external segment –> subthalamic nucleus –> globus pallidus internal segment

What is the difference in the function of the direct and indirect pathways?
- Direct Pathway = excitatory on the motor cortex
- Indirect Pathway = inhibitory on the motor cortex

What extra component modulates the function of the direct and indirect pathways?
Nigro-striatal pathway

Where do the projections go after leaving the basal ganglion structures?
- They go to the thalamus
- From the thalamus they go to the cortex
-
Primary motor area (BA4) and supplementary motor area (BA6)
- two regions involved in movement preparation and planning
-
Primary motor area (BA4) and supplementary motor area (BA6)

Describe how the basal ganglia are involved in choosing correct motor programmes to carry out particular functions
- The basal ganglia and cortex form a processing loop
- The basal ganglia enable proper motor programmes (stored in the cortex) via the direct pathway (excitatory)
- The basal ganglia inhibit the competing motor programmes via the indirect pathway
- In summary, the basal ganglia and its direct and indirect pathways make sure that appropriate motor commands get transmitted down the hierarchy.

Connections with which parts of the brain allow the basal ganglia to have a role in enabling various cognitive, executive and emotional programmes?
- Prefrontal cortex
- Limbic system

What causes Parkinson’s disease?
- Parkinson’s disease is the neuronal degeneration of dopaminergic neurones in the pars compacta (SNc)
- It is caused by the progressive depletion of dopaminergic neurones
- NOTE: symptoms only appear when 80% of the dopamine cells in the substantia nigra have died
What are the consequences of Parkinson’s with regards to the circuitry of the basal ganglia?
- The loss of nigro-striatal dopaminergic axons in the caudate and putamen mean that the connection between the striatum and pars compacta (SNc) is lost.
- Striatum = caudate nucleus and putamen
- This means that the direct pathway is reduced and so the excitation of the motor cortex is reduced
- The lack of excitatory input interferes with the ability of the motor cortex to generate commands for voluntary movement, resulting in poverty of movement.
State the main signs of Parkinson’s disease.
-
Bradykinesia
- slow movement
-
Akinesia
- difficulty in the initiation of movements
-
Hypomimic face
- expressionless face
- Tremor
-
Rigidity
- increase in muscle tone
Describe the Parkinsonian gait.
- Walking slowly
- Small steps
- Shuffling feet
- Reduced arm swing
- Stooped posture with head and body bent forwards and downwards

What is Huntington’s disease caused by?
- Abnormality on chromosome 4 (autosomal dominant)
- Caused by the degeneration of GABAergic neurones in the striatum
- Firstly the caudate and then the putamen
What are the consequences of Huntington’s disease with regards to the circuitry of the basal ganglia?
- The inhibitory effect of the indirect pathway no longer keeps the direct pathway under control so the cortex will be hyperexcitable
- Patients will continuously have abnormal movements because the cortex is continuously sending involuntary commands for movements
What are the main signs of Huntington’s disease and how does the disease progress?
- Chorea = brief, semi-directed, irregular movements that are not repetitive or rhythmic, but appear to flow from one muscle to the next
- Choreic movements
- Rapid, jerky, involuntary movements of the body
- Hands and face are affected first
- Chorea gradually increases over time until the patients are totally incapacitated by it
- Later on the patients will develop cognitive decline and dementi
State the 3 lobes of the cerebellum.
Anterior Posterior Flocculonodular
The cerebellum is divided sagitally into 3 zones. What are these zones?
Vermis (midline) Intermediate hemisphere (closest to vermis) Lateral hemisphere
State the 3 layers of the cerebellar cortex.
Granule cell layer Purkinje cells Molecular layer
Name the 3 deep nuclei that are involved in the connections of thecerebellum with other parts of the body. Include their function.
Fastigial = involved in control of balance and connected with vestibular nuclei Interposed + Dentate = both involved in voluntary movement and are connected to the thalamus and the red nucleus
What are the 3 sources of input into the cerebellum and what do they connect with?
Mossy Fibres – from the cortex and pons (corticopontine fibres) Mossy Fibres – from the spinocerebellar tract Climbing Fibres – from the inferior olive